J G Graves Charitable Trust

Could J G Graves Charitable Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £500 – £3,000
Where they fund: Sheffield
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Online form
Decisions: Quarterly

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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jggravescharitabletrust.co.uk

About J G Graves Charitable Trust

The J G Graves Charitable Trust is a local grant-maker established in 1930 by Sheffield businessman and philanthropist John George Graves. It continues his legacy of investing in the city for the benefit of its residents, valuing practical, tangible improvements that reach a wide spectrum of people. The Trust funds registered charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs) operating exclusively in the City of Sheffield. It supports a broad range of causes including community development, health, poverty relief, education and skills, arts, culture, heritage, environment, and sport and recreation. Capital projects and special projects with lasting impact are preferred, though running costs and seed corn funding are also considered.

What J G Graves Charitable Trust funds

The Trust supports causes spanning community development, health, poverty relief, education and skills, arts, culture, heritage, environment, and sport and recreation. It funds capital works, project delivery, core costs, and seed corn funding. There is a preference for capital projects and special projects that create lasting benefit, over supplementing normal income. All funding is restricted to activities within the City of Sheffield, with the majority directed to local charities and Community Interest Companies. The Trust places importance on benefiting as wide a range of people as possible.

Who can apply

Registered charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs), and unincorporated associations operating in Sheffield are eligible to apply. The Trust welcomes applications from local organisations and prioritises grassroots groups delivering direct benefits to Sheffield residents. Applications from religious groups are not accepted, except where the project involves community use of buildings. The Trust does not fund individuals or national organisations without a local representative. Organisations that have applied within the previous 12 months are not normally considered.

What J G Graves Charitable Trust doesn't fund

The Trust does not fund animal charities, political organisations, or religious groups (except for community use of buildings). Applications from individuals, national organisations without a local representative, or charities that have applied within the previous 12 months are not accepted. Projects must have a clear charitable or community focus.

How they like to fund

The Trust offers both one-off and multi-year grants, supporting capital works, project delivery, and core costs. It has a preference for capital projects and special projects over supplementing normal income. Unsolicited applications are welcomed and considered by the trustees.

How much does J G Graves Charitable Trust give?

J G Graves Charitable Trust runs one grant programme. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 17 sourced facts

General Grant ProgrammeOpen to applications

£500 – £3,000

Online application form
4 rounds a year
Decisions in ~4 weeks
Multi-year funding

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What J G Graves Charitable Trust funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

Grant making will be restricted to activities in the City of Sheffield. The majority of funds will be donated to local charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs). Grants will not generally be made for the benefit of individuals. There is a preference for supporting capital projects, although “seed corn” funding and running costs will also be supported. There is a preference for special projects as opposed to supplementing normal income. Trustees place importance on benefiting as wide a range and as large a number of people as possible from a single grant. They endeavour to make grants where the funding will “really make a difference” rather than being lost in a larger pool of resources.

Where they fund

Sheffield

Costs they'll cover

Capital works & buildingsProject deliveryCore costs

They don't fund

AnimalsFaith groups

The full exclusions list (1)

Applications from animal charities; Applications for political organisations; Applications from religious groups; Applications from Churches (except for community use of buildings); Applications by or on behalf of individuals; Applications from charities that have applied within the last 12 months; Applications from national organisations without local representative; Projects without charitable or community focus.

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

CommunityHealthPoverty & hardshipArts & cultureSport & recreation

How to apply to J G Graves Charitable Trust

J G Graves Charitable Trust takes applications via online form.

Published programme route: online application form.
Decisions are typically quarterly.
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

What J G Graves Charitable Trust's application asks

We hold the 30 questions from J G Graves Charitable Trust's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.

Question 1

“Name of Correspondent”

Question 2

“Position in Organisation”

28 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.

How it works

1
Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
2
See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
3
Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if J G Graves Charitable Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does J G Graves Charitable Trust provide?

J G Graves Charitable Trust runs one grant programme — General Grant Programme: £500 – £3,000.

Where does J G Graves Charitable Trust fund charities?

J G Graves Charitable Trust funds charities operating in Sheffield.

Does J G Graves Charitable Trust accept unsolicited applications?

J G Graves Charitable Trust accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does J G Graves Charitable Trust not fund?

Their published exclusions include: Applications from animal charities; Applications for political organisations; Applications from religious groups; Applications from Churches (except for community use of buildings); Applications by or on behalf of individuals; Applications from charities that have applied within the last 12 months; Applications from national organisations without local representative; Projects without charitable or community focus.. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from J G Graves Charitable Trust?

J G Graves Charitable Trust takes applications via online form. Published programme route: online application form.